The following are just some of the green points to consider when using or marketing ceramic tile:
• There are no plastics or solvents used to make the product. Nearly all components in tile are organic—clay, sand and feldspar.
• When harvested in a responsible manner, clay is considered an eco-friendly material.
• Tile is durable and can last generations (if not longer), meaning it will not be disposed of very quickly.
• Tile doesn’t promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria.
• Most tile glazes are water-based and use minimal amounts of solvents. Once fired, the tile and glaze are completely fused with no emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Tile manufacturers are employing sophisticated dust collection systems and reclamation processes to reuse all unfired waste generated by production.
• Many manufacturers have systems that recycle 100% of retained production water resulting in a drastic reduction in water consumption.
• Technological advances are allowing manufacturers to take back post-consumer tiles and recycle them into new ones, thus keeping materials from municipal waste streams.
• Porcelain is technically impervious ceramic tile. This means spills will not seep through the material and deteriorate the subfloor with rot, mold, etc.
• Tile can help projects earn LEED points under various areas, depending on where and how it is manufactured.
• Tile manufacturers are employing sophisticated dust collection systems and reclamation processes to reuse all unfired raw waste generated by production.
• If damaged, individual tiles can be easily replaced without impacting the entire floor, using less material.
• Advances in setting materials now allow many tile installations to be left intact if new flooring is desired.
• The tile industry as a whole has reduced gaseous emissions by 75% of the levels required to produce just one-third of what it did in the 1970s.
• Tile effectively retains both heat and the cooling effect of air conditioning. When used in conjunction with an energy-efficient radiant heating system, the energy consumption required for a building can be reduced.
• Tile will not give off odors or absorb odors from other contaminants such as smoke and paint fumes.
• There are generally no gases or toxic byproducts when installing or living with tile.
